Carrier for bottles and the like



TJec. v R. N. BOSTOCK 2,917,220

CARRIER FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1959 R. N. BOSTOCK CARRIER FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1958 Dec. 15, 1959 s ocK 2,917,220

CARRIER FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 5. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 2,917,220 7 CARRIER FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Raymond N. Bostock, Upper Montclair, N.J., assignor to P. Ballantine & Sons, Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Appiication March 5, 1958, Serial No. 719,279 8 Claims. (Cl. 229 23) This invention relates to carriers of the type used for transporting a plurality of containers, such as glass bottles and the like. I

. his application is a continuation in part of application rial No. 412,197 filed February 24, 1954'.

Open top cartons, that is cartons having bottom, side and" end Walls, but not a top wall or cover, have been used for a number of years for the purpose of storing and transporting Various items of merchandise, including glass bottles containing beer, soft drinks or other liquids. Such cartons are usually provided with partitions that divide their interiors into compartments for receiving individual bottles to prevent the bottles from coming into direct contact with each other, thereby minimizing the possibility of breakage of the bottles in the course of handling.

Due to the weight of the merchandise and the rough handling to which loaded cartons are frequently subjected, present-day open cartons are generally constructed of heavy fibreboard. It is often necessary, in order to provide adequate strength and rigidity, to reinforce the cartons in various ways. As a consequence, such cartons are quite expensive.

container may be made of a relatively lightweight, inexpensive corrugated cardboard. The sling is preferably made of a heavy duty fibreboard, while the partition unit is made of a suitable grade and Weight of fibreboard. Fibreboard is recommended for the sling and partition unit, to provide necessary strength and to permit repeated reuse of the same, with the initial or subsequent outer containers. Also, the sling and partition unit are treated to make them waterproof, thereby protecting them from moisture and prolonging their useful life. It will be understood that the term paperboard, as used hereinafter and in the appended claims, is intended to cover various sheet materials that may be used in the manti-' facture of the carrier of this invention, whether corrugated cardboard, fibreboard or other appropriate material.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a carrier for bottles or the like having improved features' of construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrier having a relatively inexpensive disposable outer container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrier having a relatively inexpensive outer container, which may be discarded when scuffed or otherwise rendered unsightly, and a relatively strong reinforced inner container, whichm-ay be reused many times with successive outer containers.

Certain present-day cartons of thecharacter indicated above are designed and capable of being reused a number of times, under normal conditions. These cartons, as well as other cartons now available, often become damaged or marred by the weather and by scuifing, and, as

ac'onsequence, are either weakened structurally or fendered so unsightly that they must be discarded after being used only a relatively few times. In certain classes of service, and particularly in cartons used for handling beer bottles in round trip service, the cartons are frequentlysubjected to hand usage and poor storage conditions in taverns, grocery stores and the like.

i The carrier of this invention overcomes many of the difficultiesexperienced heretofore. While it employs an outer container-that is in some-respects similar to conventional open cartons, such container is expendable. That is, it is inexpensive andmay be discarded without appreciable loss if it becomes damaged or unsightly after beingused only a few times.

Requisite strength and rigidity are imparted to th carrier of this invention by a liner or sling that is removably disposed within the outer container in a manner that will be described, in detail, further along herein. The sling is preferably made of a relatively strong, waterproofed fibreboard and is provided with a reinforcing rod that is in the form of an open frame. The-sling has its parts so constructed and arranged that it may be used by itself to carry a full load of bottles, if necessary. Also, the sling is collapsible and is compact when in collapsed condition, thereby facilitating handling and shipping of the same.

A preferred and recommended carrier constructed in accordance with this invention also includes a partition unit that is removably positioned within both the outer container and the sling. The partition unit comprises a plurality: of upstanding and interlocking dividers that definea plurality of bottle-receiving compartments.

The outer container, sling and partition unit are made from blanks of suitable sheet material that may be readily cut;- creased, folded and bent, as required. The outer A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier of the character indicated, having its parts so constructed and arranged as to permit its being readily assembled or dismantled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide abottle carrier that is simple and sturdy in construction, that is reasonable in cost, and that is capable of perform-' ing its intended functions in a satisfactory manner.

The enumerated'objects, as well as additional objects, together with the advantages of the invention, will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, upon reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that respectively describe and illustrate apreferred embodiment of the invention. 1

' In the drawings: Y

' Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a complete carrier con structed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the separate units of the carrier shown in Fig. 1, in the course of assembling the same; I

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating certain of the parts of the carrier in another relative position;

I Fig. 4 is an isometric view of two units of the carrier shown in Fig. 1, prior to assembly;

Fig. 5 is. an enlarged fragmentary view, taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is an isometric view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a modified form of construction according to the inventron;

Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of the paperboard block from which the outer container shown in Fig. 6 is constructed;

v Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the modified carrier shown in Fig. 6 showing the appearance of a corner of the assembled carrier. I

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the sev e'ral views, a preferred and recommended form of carrier embodying the invention is generally indicated by numeral 10, Figs. 1 and 3 and consists of three nested units, namely a first unit or outer container C, a second unit or slings, and a third unit or honeycomb partition 1.

The first unit or container C best shown in Fig. 4 is m'a'defrom a blankofa single piece of" paperboard such" 3 as a relatively light-weight, inexpensive corrugated cardboard. The blank is cut, creased and folded and its parts are united to obtain a bottom wall 11, a pair of parallel side walls 12 and a pair of parallel end walls 13. One of the side walls 12 has an end flap 14 which bears against the inner surface of one of the end walls and is secured thereto by staples or the like 15 whereby the side and end walls are maintained in the illustrated upright positions. If it is contemplated that the carrier will be conveyed on mechanical conveyers in such a position that the side walls 12 will be parallel to the line of motion and the end walls 13 approximately normal to the line of motion, it is desirable to form the bottom wall 11 by first folding in the side extensions 11a and then folding in the end extensions 11b. A bottom wall 11 formed in this manner resists scufiing to a greater extent than when formed in the traditional manner.

Each side wall 12 has an extension 16 which is bent and folded along crease lines 17 and 18 to obtain a narrow crimp 19 and a flap 20. As shown in Fig. 1, each crimp 19 projects inwardly and generally parallel to bottom wall 11 while each flap ZtB-projects downwardly and generally parallel to the corresponding side wall 12 when the carrier is completely assembled.

Each end wall 13 is cut to form a hand opening 21. Each end wall 13 also has an extension 23 that is creased along lines 24 and 25 to define a corresponding narrow crimp 26 and a flap 27. The parts of extensions 23 are arranged similarly to those of extension 16 in the assembled carrier 10, i.e. each narrow crimp 26 projects inwardly and generally parallel to the bottom wall 11, while each flap 27 projects downwardly and is generally parallel to the corresponding end wall 13.

Extensions 16 and 23 are respectively narrower than side walls 12 and end walls 13 to permit proper disposition of the parts in the completed carton. Also the junctures of the extensions and side and end walls define corner openings or notches 28. Formed in flaps 27 are hand openings 29 that align with hand openings 21.

, Reference is next had to Figs. 4 and 5 for an understanding of the construction of the second unit or sling S. The sling is preferably made in part from a single, rectangular piece of relatively heavy paperboard such as an appropriate grade and weight of fibreboard that is treated to render the same waterproof. The piece of fibreboard is creased and folded along spaced parallel lines 30 to obtain a bottom wall 31 and a pair of end Walls 32.

Each of. the sling end walls 32 is cut to form a hand opening 33. Integral with each end wall 32 is an extension which is bent inwardly to provide a narrow arcuate top strip as indicated at 34 in Fig. 5 and a flap 35, the latter bearing against and being secured to the corresponding end wall 32 by staples or the like 36. Arcuate top strips 34 and the immediately adjacent portions of end Walls 32 and flaps 35 define a rod-receiving pocket 38 (Fig. 5).

The sling also includes a planar, generally rectangular, open frame 40, that is made from a continuous rod which is bent to provide a pair of parallel sides 41 and a pair of parallel ends 42. The opening defined by the frame corresponds generally in size and configuration to bot tom wall 31. The junctures of sides 41 and ends 42 are bent to provide outwardly projecting frame corner portions 43 which register with notches 28 in the completed carrier 10. Frame ends 42 extend through pockets 38 and form pivot or hinge connections therewith. It will be apparent from an examination of Fig. 4 that the sling may be readily collapsed into a compact unit for purposes of storage or shipment and subsequently may be easily and quickly opened to the illustrated condition.

The illustrated form of the invention includes a third unit or partition P which consists of a first plurality of upstanding, parallel dividers 44, and a second plurality of upstanding, parallel dividers 45 which are normal to dividers 44. All dividers are made of a suitable paperopenings.

board. Dividers 44 are slotted upwardly from their bottom edges, while dividers 45 are slotted downwardly from their top edges, whereby interlocking engagement is attained therebetween as disclosed in greater detail in Verhoven Patent 1,976,530 dated October 9, 1934 to which reference may be had. The dividers are so constructed and arranged as to define a plurality of equal size bottlereceiving compartments 46. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, partition P divides the interior of the carrier into 12 such compartments.

In assembling the carrier, outer container C is placed on a support such as a table or counter with its bottom wall resting thereon and its flaps 2t) and 27 projecting upwardly and outwardly as shown in Fig. 4. The sling S is then inserted into outer container C so that its bottom wall 31 bears against the container bottom wall 11, and its end walls 32 bear against container end walls 13 (Fig. 2). Also, frame portions 43 will be in registry with notches 28 of the outer container C. The flaps 20 and 27 are now swung downwardly over the top edges of the sling so that flaps 2% lie along container side walls 12 and flaps 27 lie along sling end walls 32. In this position hand openings 21 and 29 of the outer container C will be in registry with hand openings 33 of the sling S, thereby providing a convenient means for gripping the carrier 10.

The final step in assembling the carrier consists of inserting partition P into the nested outer container C and sling S. The partition P when in position rests on the bottom wall 31 of the sling S, and its ends bear against flaps 2t and 27 thereby maintaining these flaps in proper position. It will be observed from an examination of Fig. 1 that the partition P terminates above the lower ends of the flaps 2t} and 27 and below the aligned hand As a consequence, the partition P does not interfere with the handling of the loaded carrier 10.

While the carrier of the invention, as previously described, is well adapted for use under conditions where water damage may occur, carriers are sometimes subjected to unusually severe and prolonged water conditions such as frequent storage in wet cellars and open trucks. in accordance with further aspects of the invention, the carrier may be further improved to meet such condi tions by increasing the strength and stability of the various parts of the carrier as hereinafter described.

It will be appreciated that if the outer container C is subjected to severe water conditions together with heavy loading, as when several carriers are stacked one above the other, there will be a tendency to crush the sides 12 and 13 of the outer container C in a generally vertical direction. As a result of such crushing the several upper carriers will rest upon bottles which may be located in the bottle compartments 46 of the lower adjacent carriers rather than upon the side and end walls of such lower carriers. The stability of a stack of such carriers under these conditions will be considerably diminished. order to alleviate the loss of stability as a result of the aforementioned crushing, the flaps 20 and 27 of the outercontainer C (Fig. 6) may be increased in length until they extend to the bottom wall 31 of the sling S. Such an extension will increase the crushing strength of-the outer containerC to a considerable degree. To provide for easy assembly of the carrier when using flaps which extend to the bottom wall of the sling S, it is desirable to provide finger-holes in the form of semi-circular notches 22 in each of the fiaps 20 and 27. While the aforementioned modification is etfective to increase the crushing strength of the outer container C, it has also been found desirable to increase the height of the carton so that the sides 12 and 13 extend slightly above the bottles contained therein. Such extension is desirable since regardless of the construction of the outer container C a small amount of crushing is likely to result whenever a plurality of carriers 10 are placed in a stack. It

has been found that a container height approximately Inv g trfto ig" inexcessof the bottle height is sufficient to stabilize-the-carrier'and-prevent a condition whereby an upper carrier rests. on the bottles rather than the sides ofadower. carrier.

The carrier is normally'handled by lifting at the hand openings provided. therein, but there may be occasions whenthe carrier is dragged, for instance, by the lateral application of forces at one hand opening only. It will beapparentthzit the stress applied tothe container C from lifting, or especially from dragging, is concentrated at the upper. corners at the location of the notch 23 and may-tend to cause a tear commencing at the base of the said notch- I In accordance with a further aspect of theinvention designed to produce a corner of heater appearance and greater strength, the notch 28 and the corresponding corner portions 43 of the open frame 40 of the sling S, may be eliminated. In this modification, the wall. extensions 16.0f the outer container C are cut approximately. /3" narrower on each edge than the side 12 so..'that. the side flaps. 2.0 are approximately shorter tharirthe corresponding side walls 12 of the container C but this cut extends only to thecrease line 18 of the-side wall. extension 16 (Fig.7).v From the junction 54 of the-said cut. and the crease line 18, the said cut is'directed angularly to the junction 55 of the crease line 17 and the, container edge 56 defined by side wall 1'2 and end wall 13. The end wall extensions. 23 are cut approximately fig", narrower on each edge than .the ends 13 so thatthe end flapsv 27 are approximately /s shorter than the corresponding end walls 13, but this cut extends only to a point 57-about 1%" short of crease line 25 of the endwall extension 23. From. point 57, the end wall extension 23. is cut angularly to a point 58 located on the crease. line 25 about from theoriginal edge of the end. wall extension 23 and thence extends angularly to the junction. 55 of the crease line 24 and the container edgefdefined, by the side-wall 12 and the end wall 13 of -the container C.- The foregoing dimensions are, of eeursa. given only by way of example and are for an outer container C' having' inside dimensions of 16 7 x 12); inches. I j

Thecarrier may. be assembled as previously described except that after thesling S is in. place the end flaps 27ers first swung downwardly over the end walls 32 of the slings and then the side flaps are slung downwardly over the sides 41 of .the frame 40 of the sling S. ltfwill be appreciated that the edges of the end flaps'27 will extend somewhat around the inside surface of the container edge 56, thereby strengthening the said edge and thean'gular portions of the end flaps 27 and side flaps 20 will be mitered 'So as to form a joint of neat appearanceKFig. 8). v

In accordance with this further aspect of the present invention, the sling S and partition P may also be modified. As already not'ed, the corner portions 43 of theopen frame 40 of the sling S may be eliminated. In lieuof supporting the frame 40 by the corner notches 2 8.,;the,'sling S" may be notched out at the point 39 where the'fraine 40 enters and leaves the arcuate top strip 34. Stick, 'n'otching on each side of the end walls 32 should besiiflicientl'y deep to accommodate the diametral thicknesfs'jof the frame 40 but yet prevent motion of frame ends longitudinally with respect to the pocket 38. To

avoid downward displacement of the frame ends 42 in the; po'ckets 38,;some of; the staples 36 are positioned closely'adjacentto the pocket 38. With reference to Fig. 5 ,'it w'ill'be noted that the frame 40 is located below the top of the sling S by a distance which is approximately equal to the thickness of the paperboard material from whieh the sling S is constructed. In order that the frame 40in'ay contribute. to the crushing strength of the side wall 12 of the outer container C in a manner similar to. that in which it re-enforces the end walls 13 of said container C, the parallel sides 41 0f the frame 40 may be alternately. kinked up and down throughout their lengths ass'hoWn-at 41a-and 41b (-Fig. 6) or-only adjacent to'theaparall'el ends42, if desired. Such kinking assuresthat theparallel sides-41 of the frame 40will contact the inner surfacesof the;narrow crimps 19 of the outer container C" at several points, thereby re-enforcing the side WaiiSf'12jOf the'outer container C' f Since'the sling S" is likely to become stained and dis figured through use long before its structure is so weakenedas-to prevent; further use,- an additional feature of the present invention involves the reversibility of the sling so. that stained portions may be placed adjacent to the inside of the outer container C, thus doubling the useful life of th'e'sling. It'will' be appreciated that when the sling S isso reversed,v the alternate kinking of the frame sides 41'previously' described still provides reinforcement fo'r the side walls 12 of the outer container tended flaps 35 aligned with handholes3-3 of end walls 32'. The bottom wall 31 may also be provided with extensions 50 and 51 (Fig. 6) which may be creased and, folded along lines 52 and 53 respectively to provide up-- standingflaps. Flaps 50 and 51 are parallel to the frame sides 41 and arranged when the sling S is inserted in the container C to lie parallel to and in closecontact with the respective side Walls 12. The flaps 50 and 51 reinforce the bottom wall 31 of the sling making it more" Since the flaps 50 and 51 act as beams, they rigid. should extend substantially the full length of the sling, When utilized to reinforce the side Walls 12 of the outer container C, the flaps 5 0 and '51 should extend upwardly to the kinked portions of the frame sides 41. 7

It willbe noted that the frame 40 not only increases the crushing strength of the carrier but also resists any tendency of the side or end Walls to buckle. In order for the frame 40 to properly resist any buckling tendency induced, for instance,by dragging the container by one hand opening, it is important that the material from whichthefra'me 40 is made have a high yield point, otherwise the frame may be permanently deformed in the course of normal handling. It has been found that if the frame 40 is made of a spring steel having a yield surfaceto stabilize the support of other carriers which may be. stacked above the instant carrier. It may be observed from Fig. 1 that evenwhen the height of partition P is increased to the top of the carrier, the partition does not interfere with the handling of the carrier. However, care must be takento insure that the partition P will not interfere with handling of the carrier when the size of the compartments 46 is decreased and the number of compartments 46 is increased. In general, no problem will occur if the number of compartments 46 along one end wall 13 of the carrier is three, four or six.

Several alternative and complementary carrier instructions are provided herein, all of which provide for increased strength and stability of the completed carrier. It will ordinarily not be necessary to include all of the above features simultaneously but various combinations of the above features may be employed to suit particular operating requirements. For instance, since the sling S willbe constructed of material which is stronger and more durable than that used for the outer container C, the extension of the sling flaps 35 and side extensions 50 and 51 will provide greater carrier strength than is provided by the corresponding extension of the container flaps 20 and 27. The cost of the former feature will exceed the cost of the latter feature. However, since the sling S may outlast several containers C with which it is used, the ultimate cost may be lower. Thus, it will be appreciated that the use of combinations of the various features disclosed herein will depend upon economicfactors and conditions of use which are extrinsic to the present invention.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, objects and advantages of the invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art. It is unit made from a sheet of relatively inexpensive paper board and comprising a bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel side walls and a pair of spaced parallel end walls,

each side wall of said first unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly and terminates at a bottom edge containing at least one finger notch, each end wall of said first unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, each end wall and fiap having a hand opening formed therein, and a second unit removably disposed within the first unit and including a bottom wall and a pair'of spaced parallel end walls, the last mentioned bottom and end walls being made from a sheet of relatively expensive paperboard substantially stronger, more durable and more water-resistant than the paper board used for said first unit and being adjacent and generally parallel to the corresponding walls of the first unit,

each end Wall of the second unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, the end walls and flaps of said second unit being disposed between and adjacent the corresponding end walls and flaps of said first unit, each end wall of said second unit having a hand opening formed therein and aligned with the hand openings in the adjacent end wall and flap of the first unit, each side and end wall flap of said first unit extending to the bottom wall of said second unit, said second unit also including a framecomprising a rod defining an opening corresponding generally in size and configuration to the bottom wall of the second unit and including a pair of spaced parallel side parts and a pair of spaced parallel end parts, each end part forming a hinge connection with the upper portion of an end wall of the second unit, each upper corner ofssaid second unit end walls being notched out to form an opening the dimensions of which are substantially equal to the diameter of the second unit frame rod thereby shortening the hinge connection portions of the end walls of said second unit so that said hinge connection portion of the said second unit is substantially equal to the internal dimensio'n of the end part of said open frame whereby the end wall of said second unit supports said open frame and the hinge connection portion of said end wall prevents lateral displacement of said open frame relative to said second unit end wall, the side parts of said frame of said second unit having portions thereof displaced alternately upwardly and downwardly throughout at least a portion of the length of each of said side parts of said frame.

2. In a carrier for bottles and the like, a hollow first unit made from a sheet of relatively inexpensive paperboard and comprising a bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel side walls and a pair of spaced parallel end walls, :each side wall of said first unit having an extension com prising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly and terminates .at a bottom edge containing at least one finger notch, each end wall of said first unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, each end wall and flap having a hand opening formed therein, andasecond unit removably disposed within the first unit and' including a bottom wall and a. pair of spaced parallel end walls, the last mentioned bottom and end walls being made from a sheet of relatively expensive paperboard substantially stronger, more durable and more water-resistant than the paperboard used for said first unit and being adjacent and generally parallel to the corresponding Walls of the first unit, each end wall of the second unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, theend walls and flaps of said second unit being disposed between and adjacent the corresponding end walls and flaps of said first unit, each end wall of said second unit having a hand opening formed therein and aligned with the hand openings in the adjacent end wall and flap of the first unit, each side and end wall flap of said first unit extending to the bottom wall of said second unit, said second unit also including a frame comprising a rod defining an opening corresponding generally in size and configuration to the bottom wall of the second unit and including a pair of spaced parallel side parts and a pair of spaced parallel end parts, each end part forming a hinge connection with the upper portion of an end wall of the second unit, each upper corner of said second unit end walls being notched out to form an opening the dimensions of which are sub-' stantially equal to the diameter of the second unit frame rod thereby shortening the hinge connection portions of the end walls of said second unit so that said hinge connection portion of the said second unit is substantially equal to the internal dimension of the end part of said open frame whereby the end wall of said second unit supports said open frame and the hinge connection portion of said end wall prevents lateral displacement of said open frame relative to said second unit end wall, the side parts of the frame of said second unit having portions thereof displaced alternately upwardly and downwardly through out at least a portion of the length of each of said side parts of same frame, the bottom wall of said second unit having an extension at either side thereof comprisinga flap which is folded inwardly and upwardly and extends upwardly to the downwardly displaced portions of th said second unit frame. V 3. In a carrier for bottles and the like, a hollow first unit made from a sheet of relatively inexpensive paperboard and comprising a bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel side walls and a pair of spaced parallel end walls, each side and end wall of said first unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, each end wall and end wall extension fia'p having a hand opening formed therein, and a second unit remov ably disposed within the first unit and including a bottom Wall and'a pair of spaced end walls, the last mentioned bottom and end walls being made from a sheetof relatively expensive paperboard substantially stronger than the paperboard used for the said first unit and being adjacent and generally parallel ,to the corresponding wallsof.

the first unit, each endwall of the second unit having a hand opening formed therein andaligned with the hand opening in the adjacent end wall of the first unit, said second unit also including a frame comprising a rod de-' fining an opening corresponding generally in size and configuration to the bottom wall of the .second unit and including a pair of spaced parallel side portions, said parallel side parts having portions thereof displaced alternately upwardly and downwardly throughout at least a portion of the length of said parallel side parts and a pair of spaced parallel end parts, each end part forming a hinge connection with the upper portion of an end wall of the second unit.

4. In a carrier for bottles and the like, a hollow. first unit made from a sheet of relatively inexpensive paper-f boa d and comprising a bottom wall, a paper of spaced parallel side walls and a pair of spaced parallel end walls, each side and end wall having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, each end wall and each end wall extension having a hand opening formed therein, and a second unit removably disposed within the first unit and including a bottom wall and a pair of spaced end walls, said bottom wall having an extension at either side thereof comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and upwardly, the last mentioned bottom, end walls and flaps being made from a sheet of relatively expensive paperboard substantially stronger than the paperboard used for said first unit, whereby said second unit provides a major portion of the strength of said carrier, each end wall of said second unit being disposed between an end wall and flap of said first unit and being adjacent and generally parallel to the corresponding end wall of said first unit and said flaps of said second unit being disposed adjacent, generally parallel to and between the corresponding side walls and side wall flaps of said first unit whereby said second unit fits snugly within said first unit, each end wall of the second unit having a hand opening formed therein and aligned with the hand openings in the adjacent end wall and flap of the first unit, said second unit also including a frame comprising a rod defining an opening corresponding generally in size and configuration to the bottom wall of the second unit and including a pair of spaced parallel side parts and a pair of spaced parallel end parts, each end part forming a hinge connection with the upper portion of an end wall of the second unit, said second unit bottom wall extension flaps extending upwardly to said frame.

5. A carrier in accordance with claim 4 in which each 'first unit end wall extension flap extendsto the bottom wall of said second unit.

6. In a carrier for bottles and the like, a hollow first unit made from a sheet of relatively inexpensive paperboard and comprising a bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel side walls and a pair of spaced parallel end walls, each side and end wall of the first unit having an extension comprising a fiap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, the junctures of each side and end wall extensions defining a miter joint at each upper corner of said first unit, each end wall and end wall extension flap having a hand opening formed therein, and a second unit removably disposed within the first unit, and including a bottom wall and a pair of spaced end walls, the last mentioned bottom and end walls being made from a sheet of relatively expensive paperboard stronger than the paperboard used for said first unit and being adjacent and generally parallel to the corresponding side walls of the first unit, each end wall of the second unit having a hand opening formed therein and aligned with the hand openings in the adjacent end wall of the first unit, said second unit also including a frame comprising a rod defining an opening corresponding generally in size and configuration to the bottom wall of the second unit and including a pair of spaced parallel side parts and a pair of spaced parallel end parts, each end part forming a hinge connection with the paper portion of an end wall of the second unit, said parallel side parts of the frame of said second unit having portions thereof displaced alternately upwardly and downwardly throughout at least a portion of the length of each of said side parts.

7. In a carrier for bottles and-the like, a hollow first unit made from a sheet of relatively inexpensive paperboard and comprising a bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel side walls and a pair of spaced parallel end walls, each side wall of said first unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly and terminates at a bottom edge, each end wall of said first unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, each end wall and flap having a hand opening formed therein, and a second unit removably disposed within the first unit and including a bottom wall and a pair of spaced parallel end walls, the last mentioned bottom and end walls being made from a sheet of relatively expensive paperboard substantially stronger, more durable and more water-resistant than the paperboard used for said first unit and being adjacent and generally parallel to the corresponding walls of the first unit, each end wall of the second unit having an extension comprising a fiap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, the end walls and flaps of said second unit being disposed between and adjacent the corresponding end walls and flaps of said first unit, each end wall of said second unit having a hand opening formed therein and aligned with the hand openings in the adjacent end wall and flap of the first unit, each side and end wall flap of said first unit extending to the bottom wall of said second unit, said second unit also including a frame comprising a rod defining an opening corresponding generally in size and configuration to the bottom wall of the second unit and including a pair of spaced parallel side parts and a pair of spaced parallel end parts, each end part forming a hinge connection with the upper portion of an end Wall of the second unit, the side parts of the frame of said second unit having portions thereof displaced alternately upwardly and downwardly throughout at least a portion of the length of each of said side parts of said frame.

8. In a carrier for bottles and the like, a hollow first unit made from a sheet of relatively inexpensive paperboard and comprising a bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel side walls and a pair of spaced parallel end walls, each side wall of said first unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly and terminates at a bottom edge, each end wall of said first unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, each end wall and flap having a hand opening formed therein, and a second unit removably disposed within the first unit and including a bottom wall and a pair of spaced parallel end walls, the last mentioned bottom and end walls being made from a sheet of relatively expensive paperboard substantially stronger, more durable and more waterresistant than the paperboard used for said first unit and being adjacent and generally parallel to the correspond ing walls of the first unit, each end wall of the second unit having an extension comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and downwardly, the end walls and flaps of said second unit being disposed between and adjacent the corresponding end walls and flaps of said first unit,

each end wall of said second unit having a hand opening formed therein and aligned with the hand openings in the adjacent end wall and flap of the first unit, each side and end wall flap of said first unit extending to the bottom wall of said second unit, said second unit also including each of said side parts of said frame, the bottom wall of the second unit having an extension at either side thereof comprising a flap which is folded inwardly and upwardly and extends upwardly to the downwardly displaced 7 portions of the said second unit frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pate t No, 2,917,226 December 15, 1959 Raymond N. Bostock It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

Column 8, line '75, claim 4, for "paper" read pair column 9, line 59, claim 6, for "paper" read upper Signed and sealed this 31st day of May 1960.

(SEAL) fittest:

KARL H, AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oflicer Commissioner of Patents 

